Machine for removing shoes from lasts



. B. w. FREEMAN ET AL.

MACHINE FOR REMOVING SHOES FROM LASTS 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14 ct. 29, 1935. 5, w FREEMAN r AL 2,919,390

MACHINE FOR REMOVING SHOES FROM LASTS Filed June 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 h Que mug B. w. FREEMAN El AL 2,019,366

MACHINE FOR REMOVING SHOES FROM LASTS Get. 29, 1935.

Filed'June 14. 1934 e Sheets-sheaf a @ct. 29, 1935. B. w. FREEMAN ET AL MACHINE FOR REMOVING SHOES FROM LASTS Filed June 14, 1954 e Sheets- Sheet 4 ct. 29, 1935. B. w. FREEMAN ET! AL MACHINE FOR REMOVING SHQES FROM LASTS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1934 ct. 29, 1935. B, w R N ET AL 2,019,3Q

MAcgINE FOR REMOVING SHOES FROM LASTS Filed June 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I flee-moan" 7 766 0/762 Henens,

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 oFri MACHINE FOR REMOVING SHOES FROM LASTS Benjamin W. Freeman and Joseph G. Herbers,

Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to The Louis G.

Freeman Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corpo ration of Ohio Application June 14, 1934, Serial No. 730,665

42 Claims.

This invention relates to shoe machinery and more particularly to an automatic device for removing a boot or shoe from the last upon which it is built up.

In the course of manufacturing shoes, the shoe and last reach a point where the shoe must be removed from the last. In the past, this operation has been principally a manual operation.

The last is provided with a hole or opening in the rear upper part thereof which fits over a fixedly mounted post or pin generally termed a last post. This last post is usually a stand with a pin extending upwardly therefrom, the pin being slightly smaller in diameter than the hole or opening in the last. The last is placed on the stand and held in position on the last post the operator with one hand holding and bearing down on the forepart of the shoe, and with his other hand squeezing the rear or counter portion of the shoe, raising it upwardly off of the last. If the last is what is known as a hinge last,

that is, formed of two sections hinged togetherapproximately midway of the last, this operation will break the last, thus facilitating removal of the shoe.

This hand operation calls for considerable effort on the part of the operator and entails considerable expense of time and labor.

Recent years have seen a trend toward the development of machines for performing this operation, but so far as is known, these developments all require considerable effort and some skill on the part of the operator, either in relatively positioning the last and a shoe removing tool, or in physically actuating a treadle or handle connected by a leverage system to a tool or roller for separating the shoe element from the last.

Inasmuch as the distance between the hole in the last and the back part of the last will vary with different lasts, it is necessary that some provision be made for bringing an operating tool and the rear portion of the last or the shoe element into contact with each other, prior to the actual removal of the shoe. This has been done in past developments by providing a pivotal mounting for the last post, such that the operator may manually swing the shoe forwardly into the desired position, or by providing an adjustment such that the last post can be moved forward and backward, and in various other ways, all of which, however, require an act involving some skill and judgment on the part of the operator.

The present invention removes need for all elements of skill, judgment, strength and effort, and among the objects of this invention is the provision of a machine which is entirely automatic and which requires no material eifort or skill on the part of an operator, and by the use 6 of which a shoe element may be removed from its last much more easily and rapidly than heretofore possible.

Automatic, power driven means are utilized in the herein described embodiment, to bring the mounted shoe element and stripping tool into an operative relationship, and to supply the effort necessary to strip or remove the shoe element from the last, thereby eliminating all manual operations involving a relation between a tool and the mounted shoe.

Control mechanism is provided to enable the machine to perform its necessary functions through a single cycle of operations and then stop. The only requirement of the operator is the release of the mechanism, to initiate its cycle of operation.

Another object is the provision in the machine of a movable tool which automatically finds the heel or counter portion of the shoe and then automatically partakes of a movement while in engagement with the shoe, effective to raise the heel portion relative to the last, while the heel portion of the last is held in fixed position on the last post. This tool may be of a type designed to engage a surface of the shoe frictionally, to move the shoe element relative to the last, or it may be of a type which abuts the top edge of the heel portion of the shoe and by pressure against the edge portion, strip the shoe from the last. If a member of this latter type is used, it may have a portion for insertion between the shoe and last, to facilitate separation thereof.

Still another object contemplates the provision of means for ensuring that the operating tool, when removing the shoe, hugs the curved back portion of the last. moving in an are substantially conforming to the back line curvature thereof.

The operator will always have a grasp on the shoe, so that it will not fall when removed from the last, and advantage is taken of this fact to set the machine in operation, a further object of the invention consisting in the utilization of means for starting the train of mechanism in operation by a slight movement of the last and last post, through the medium of connections which trip a single cycle clutch, the machine being automatically declutched at the end of such cycle.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will appear as the description proceeds, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. l is a perspective of a complete machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the driving mechanism assembly;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in section, of the main driving pulley and associated clutch mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a clutch detail;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the driving mechanism assembly;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on the line 6-6.

of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged elevation of the operating tool assembly;

Fig. 8 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section thereof;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective of a tool detail;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective of another detail of the tool;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of an operating tool assembly illustrating a modified tool and a modification of a portion of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, but illustrating a different stage in the cycle of operation; and

Fig. 15 is a detail in section of the modified tool. 1 A preferred embodiment of a complete machine for carrying out the objects of this invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 and comprises generally an upper assembly of parts and a lower assembly, the upper assembly being the mechanism for controlling, guiding and operating the tool which removes the shoe element from the last and the control means which starts the machine in operation, while the lower assembly is the driving and actuating mechanism including the source of power, for the upper assembly, and various controls for the machine.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 there will be seen a stand or column I having a suitable bracket or base'plate 2 on which is mounted the lower assembly. This assembly constitutes the power driving mechanism and includes a driving pulley 3, a clutch 4 formed with an integral hub 4a and a peripheral track 5, in which a clutch control lever 6 operates. The clutch is eifective to periodically connect and disconnect the constantly rotating pulley 3 to the reduction gears I and 8. The gear 8, which is integral with the .clutch hub 4a is illustrated as one quarter the size of the gear 7, whereby to produce a gear ratio of four to one, although it is obvious that any desired gear ratio may be utilized.

In the illustrated embodiment, an electric motor M- is connected to the pulley 3 by a belt B, but obviously the motor may be omitted and the pulley 3 directly connected to any convenient or suitable source of power which may be available in a shoe factory.

An adjustable connecting rod or link 9 has its upper end connected to the last post block 5I in the upper assembly, and its lower end connected at I0 to one arm of a bell-crank II which is pivotally mounted on a shaft I2 supported in suitable bearings on the bracket 2.

Pivoted at 33 to the other arm of the bell-crank is a latch arm I3, having one end slotted to form a hook I'I. Rigidly secured to the clutch control lever B is a transversely extending finger or plate I4, located for engagement by the hook I1, whereby movement of the bell-crank II will cause a corresponding movement of the plate I4, hence of the control lever 6, said lever being rigid with a member 28 which is journalled on the shaft I2, for parallel movement to the bell-crank I I.

A spring I5 serves normally to hold the clutch Y lever B inwardly against the root of the track 5. A spring pressed clutch key I6 is slidable transversely of the track 5, into engagement with the pulley 3 this key being shaped with a projecting lug portion 20 and a groove 2|.

When the key is in position to clutch the pulley 3 to the clutch 4, the lug 20 projects upwardly into the track 5 and forms an obstruction therein. When declutched from the pulley 3, by the control lever 6, the key is forced back against the action of a spring 22 until the groove 2| is alined with the track 5 and forms a portion thereof.

The clutch hub 4a, being integral with the gear 8, will cause same to rotate when the key I6 clutches the pulley 3, thus rotating the gear I on its shaft 24.

In order to declutch the pulley 3 from the driving mechanism, after a single revolution of the gear I, there is provided a cam 25 having a fiat or otherwise suitably contoured portion 21, secured to the shaft 24 by a collar 26.

The member 28, to which the lever 6 is secured, supports rearwardly of the lever 6, a cam roll 29, positioned to engage the periphery of the cam 25. The cam 25 being keyed to the shaft 24 which carries the gear I, will rotate with said gear, and during engagement with the high parts of the cam, the roll 29 will act to depress the member 28, thus holding the lever 6 out of the track 5, permitting the spring 22 to slide the clutch key I6 into engagement with the pulley 3. When the low or fiat portion 21 of the cam reaches the roll 29, the member I I, under the influence of the spring I5, will drop back to its original position with the lever 6 down in the track 5.

It will be observed that the end 6a of the lever is tapered, and that the shoulder or projection 20 of the key is tapered to match the end 60., consequently when the projection, extending across the track in its clutching position, reaches the tapered end 6a, it will be forced rearwardly against the action of the spring 22, thus declutching the pulley 3 from the driving mechanism.

When it is desired to clutch the parts again, the pivotal movement of the member II, under the influence of the link 9, causes the hook I I, by its engagement with the element H! on the lever 6, to raise the lever 6 out of the track, thus permitting the clutch keyto slide into clutching position, the lever B, of course, being maintained in its outward position by the cam 25. At the same time, the latch arm I3 will slide over the cam finger 30 to disengage the hook I! from the plate I4, thereby permitting a return movement of the clutch release lever 6 under the influence of the cam 25, previous to the return of the latch or lever hook I3 to its normal position. The cam finger 30 is carried by a post 3| in the base 2 and adjusting means 32 is provided for the finger, whereby same may be set in proper position to effect the proper operation of the clutch. The latch hook is normally urged into latching position by a spring 34.

Keyed to the shaft 24 is a cam 31 to which is attached a connecting link 38 which extends to the upper assembly. The link 38 is adjustably attached to the cam 37 by means of a sliding block 39 which permits adjustment of the link with respect to the shaft 24, thereby to lengthen or shorten the stroke of the link.

A telescoping link 4 I, having its members connected by a spring 4la extends from the upper assembly to one end of a rocking lever 42 which is pivoted at '33 in a suitable bearing in the base portion 2.

This lever curves upwardly toward the cam 3'! and carries at its upper extremity a cam roll 44 which cooperates with the contoured periphery of the cam 53?. A spring 45 connecting an adjustable collar 412) with the base 2 serves to maintain the cam roll M constantly in engagement with the cam 37.

Referring now particularly to Figs. '7 to 12, wherein is illustrated the upper assembly, there will be found a head 48 secured to the top of the column i this head having an integral upstanding frame portion 59 in which is supported a stub shaft Ell. Journaled on the shaft is a post or pin block 5! which carries the last post or, as it is sometimes called, the last pin 52. The post block is an angularly shaped member having one arm 53 extending over the top of the upper assembly to support the last post and another arm extending down past the side of the frame ex-- tension toward the base of the head t8. Secured to or formed integral with the arm 54 is a bar 55 provided with holes 58, which, with the pin 51, form an adjustable connection to the link 9, which incidentally may be made adjustable in length as indicated at 912. These adjustable connections 56, 5? provide a facile means of varying the length, and angle of stroke of the link 9 to compensate for variations in the arc of travel of the pin block 59 about its pivot on the shaft 50. The are of movement may be determined by an adjusting screw 58 which is positioned on the frame 49 in position to limit the travel of the arm 54.

It will thus be evident that movement of the pin block 5i will operate the link 9 and through the mechanism in the lower assembly to which this link is connected will serve to release the clutch, thus initiating operation of the driving mechanism.

In order that there may be no movement of the pin block, except at proper times, a latch bar 59 is pivoted on the post block 5i at Gil with one end connected by a spring Bl to the post clock. The latch bar operates in a slot 62 of the pin block, and in a cooperating slot 63 in the upper part of the frame 49. The spring 6| normally holds the latch in the two slots, thus preventing movement of the pin block. When. however, a last is placed on the post 52, the body thereof will engage the end 59a of the bar which projects above the upper surface of the block 5 l, to depress same and raise the other end of the bar out of the slot 63, thereby permitting movement of the last post block through the arc of movement.

The frame as carries a pair of spaced, detachably mounted guide members 6$65, which cooperate with a guide extension 61 to form a track for a slidable carriage 68. As can be seen from Fig. '7, a portion of the carriage extends down between the guides 65 which are effective to limit the maximum length of travel of the carriage.

Pivoted on the frame at 69 is a bell crank l0,

having one end connected by a lost motion pivot at ll to the carriage, and its other end connected to the telescoping link M at 12.

Slidably mounted in a curved track l3 in the carriage is an arcuate rack 14 provided with teeth 5 along an edge portion, and carrying at one end, a tool 75 for removing a shoe element from its last. The tool head i5 preferably is detachably secured to the member, M.

Pivotally mounted at'lfi to a lower portion of 10 the carriage is a gear segment ll adapted to mesh with the teeth on the rack M. This segment carries an arm 18 which is pivotally connected at E9 to the link 38 which extends downwardly to the cam 37?. Movement of the tele- 15 scoping link M will effect a movement of the carriage 88 horizontally in the head, and movement of the gear segment ll under influence of the link 38 will effect a sliding, arcuate movement of the member 54 in the carriage 58.

The tool 55 has a concave face 88 shaped to conform to the rear of a last, and provided with a projecting lip portion 8!, designed to extend in between the rear edge portion of a shoe element and the last. The tool also has a shoulder 82 ef- 25 fective to engage the edge of the shoe, whereby an upward movement of the tool will readily remove a shoe from a last which is held on the last pin 52.

Having thus described the invention the operation thereof will be readily understood. A last 30 upon which a shoe is mounted, is placed on the last post or pin 52. The body of the last engages the latch 59, releasing same from the slot 63, whereupon an operator can move the last, last post, and post block 5! slightly forward through 35 an are determined by the adjusting screw 58. Normally this movement will not be greater than 5 degrees. By such movement the driving mechanism in the base of the machine is clutched to the driving pulley and the cam 3'! begins to 40 rotate, causing an actuation of the telescoping link 4|.

The carriage 68 immediately begins to move to-- ward the last under the influence of the link thus bringing the head or tool l5 against the rear of 5 the last, in a sense finding its proper position. Inasmuch as the link M is a telescoping arrangement having a sleeve within which a solid link is telescopingly mounted with a spring ila compressed between the collar ilb and the sleeve, to 5 normally urge them apart, it will be obvious that the carriage, and of course the tool l5 on the carriage will be held against th last at all times, regardless of other movements of the tool. While this movement of the carriage is taking place, the 55 lower end of the link 38 will be passing over a dead center position of the cam 37, and no ap preciable movement will be given to the rack M. However, by the time that the tool 15 has found the last, the cam 37 will begin to draw the link 38 downwardly, thus actuating the gear segment '71 and causing the tool E5 to rise and consequently to strip the shoe element from the last.

This entire operation will occupy a single revolution of the gear 1 and cam 25. At the completion of such revolution the clutch release lever 6 will drop back in the track 5 and cause a declutching of the pulley from the driving mechanism.

If found necessary, suitable braking means may be utilized to cooperate with the clutch in stopping the movement of the several parts after a single cycle of operation, such means being illustrated diagrammatically at 23 as a conventional type of band brake, though any equivalent means may be used.

The springs 45 and 9a and the pin Mo, cooperating with spring 45, are effective to assist in restoring various parts to their pro-per position.

It will be observed that the movement of the last and last pin in releasing the parts of the lower assembly, so that they may be clutched to the driving pulley, is in the same direction that will be followed in the shoe removing operation, and in fact is the first portion of the movement required to break the last and strip the shoe element from the last.

A plate 83 is secured over the track 13 and rack 14 and serves to retain the rack in position. If it is desired to adjust the height of the stroke of the member M and tool 15, this can be effected by removing the plate and changing the relation of the teeth on the rack with respect to the teeth on the gear segment H. The total length of stroke may be varied by adjusting the connection 39 between the link 38, and the cam 31. As pointed out during the description various adjustments may be effected; in fact the entire mechanism if desired may be enclosed within the column I by suitably adjusting the relation of the several links to the parts which they connect.

With certain types of shoes and lasts it may be found desirable to use a difierent form of tool for removing the shoe from that illustrated at T5, and in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 is illustrated a slight variation.

' Instead of the tool with a lip, there is shown a tool 86 which has a concaved face 8'! formed in a block of soft frictional material such as rubber, indicated at 88. This tool is pivotally mounted at 89, on the rack 74, and instead of engaging the upper edge portion will frictionally grip the rear portion of the shoe just above the edge.

The material 88, by virtue of the fact that its normal concavity is somewhat greater than the convexity of a conventional shoe counter or last, will operate much in the manner of a suction cup, upon engagement with the shoe element, and may be metal encased, if necessary to increase its suctional tendencies.

The cam 319, which corresponds to the cam 31, is contoured with a high point terminating abrubtly at X and a second abrupt point at Z. Fig. 13 shows the mechanism just before starting a cycle, and Fig. 14 shows the mechanism at the top of its stroke.

The abrupt contour at the points X and Z is eifective to quickly throw the carriage and tool 35 tightly against the shoe and to remove same quickly when the shoe has been removed, that is, immediately after the gripping tool completes its operations.

It will be evident that the cam roll 44 will rise suddenly into the depression adjacent the high point X, thus giving a sudden movement toward the shoe of the carriage 68, and will just as suddenly drop into the depression adjacent the point Z, to quickly withdraw the carriage.

It is important that the last be retained against slipping off of the last pin as that would interfere with the removal of the shoe and in the machine herein described the shoe in eifect creates a pressure between the last and last pin because of the movement of the gripping or pulling member, i. e., the tool 15 or 86 following the back line of the last. The degree of pressure applied by the tool can be regulated by the spring Ma and the collar Mb against which it bears.

Various adaptations in the tool will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, as varying types of shoe and last are utilized. For example, the tool 86 might well be formed with a lip such as illustrated at Bl without sacrificing the advantages inherent in a soft frictional or rubber 5 surface, or a tool such as 15 might readily have its surface 80 covered with rubber or other friction material.

The structure herein described is primarily designed to remove completed shoes from their 10 lasts, but it is also effective in the case of incomplete shoes such as a McKay type shoe, prior to the second lasting, or an element of a shoe as such, an example being a shoe without its outsole, and accordingly the term shoe element 5 as employed throughout the specification and. claims is intended to cover all of such classes.

The various embodiments of the invention herein described are intended as illustrative and not as limiting, other than as defined in the ap- 3 pended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patend of the United States, is:-

l. A machine for removing shoes from lasts 35 comprising a last support, a shoe removing tool, means to move said tool into and out of proper operating position relative to said support, and additional means for thereafter actuating said tool through an operating stroke. 30

2. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a last support, a shoe removing tool, means to move said tool into and out of operating position relative to said support, means for actuating said tool through an operating stroke, 35 and means for locking both of said means against operation until a last is positioned on said support.

3. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a last support, a carriage, a shoe re- 4 moving tool mounted in said carriage, means to move said carriage and tool into and out of operating position relative to said support, and means to actuate said tool relative to said carriage, through an operating stroke. 45

4. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a last support, a carriage, a shoe removing tool mounted in said carriage, means to move said carriage and tool into and out of operating position relative to said support, means 50 to actuate said tool relative to said carriage through an operating stroke, and means for looking both of said means against operation until a last is positioned on said support.

5. A machine for removing shoes from lasts 5 comprising a movable last support, a shoe removing tool, means to move said tool into and out of operating position relative to said support, means for actuating said tool through an operating stroke, and means carried by said support 60 for controlling said moving means and said actuating means in accordance with the position of said support.

6. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a movable last support, a shoe remov- 65 ing tool, means to move said tool into and out of operating position relative to said support, means for actuating said tool through an operating stroke, means for controlling said moving means and said actuating means in accordance 70 with the positionof said support, and means carried by said support for locking said support against movement until a last is positioned on the support.

7. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a last support, a shoe removing tool, driving means for moving said tool into and out of operating position relative to the support and for actuating said tool through an operating stroke, control means connecting said driving means and said support, and means mounting said support for movement, whereby said driving means will be controlled through said controlling means in accordance with movements of said support.

8. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a movable last support, a carriage, a shoe removing tool mounted in said carriage, means to move said carriage and tool into and out of operating position relative to said support, means to actuate said tool relative to said carriage through an operating stroke, means for controlling said moving means and said actuating means in accordance with the position of said support, and means for locking said support against movement until a last is positioned on the support.

9. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool, means for moving said tool into proper engagement with the counter portion of the shoe, and driving means additional to said moving means, for thereafter actuating said tool to eiiect relative movement between the shoe and the last.

10. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool, means for moving said tool into proper engagement with the counter portion of the shoe, driving means additional to said moving means, for thereafter actuating said tool to eifect relative movement between the shoe and the last, and means for retaining said tool constantly in engagement with the shoe during the last movement of the tool.

11. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool, means for moving said tool into engagement with the counter portion of the shoe, driving means for thereafter actuating said tool toeffect relative movement between the shoe and the last, and means controlled by the last for initiating actuation of said driving means.

12. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool, driving means for moving said tool into engagement with the counter portion of the shoe and for thereafter actuating said tool to effect relative movement between the shoe and the last, and means controlled by the last for initiating actuation of said driving means. 4

13. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a portion engageable with the shoe and. a lip adapted for insertion between the shoe and the last, means for moving said tool into proper engagement with the shoe, and driving means additional to said moving means, for thereafter actuating said tool to effect a removal of the shoe from the last.

14. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a portion engageable with the shoe and a lip adapted for insertion between the shoe and the last, means for moving said tool into proper engagement with the shoe, driving means additional to said moving means, for thereafter actuating said tool to effect a removal of the shoe from the last, and means for retaining said tool constantly in engagement with the shoe during the last movement of the tool.

15. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a portion engageable with the shoe and a lip adapted for insertion between the shoe and the last, means for moving said tool into engagement with the shoe, driving means for thereafter actuating said tool to effect a removal of the shoe from the last, and means controlled by the last for initiating actuation of said driving means.

16. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a friction surface shaped to conform to the counter portion of the shoe, means for moving said tool into proper engagement with the shoe, and driving means additional to said moving means, for thereafter actuating said tool to effect a removal of the shoe from the last.

17. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a friction surface shaped to conform to the counter portion of the shoe, means for moving said tool into proper engagement with the shoe, driving means additionalto said moving means, for thereafter actuating said tool to effect a removal of the shoe from the last, and means for retaining said tool constantly in engagement with the shoe during the last movement of the tool.

18. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a friction surface shaped to conform to the counter portion of the shoe, means for moving said tool into engagement with the shoe, driving means for thereafter actuating said tool to effect a removal of the shoe from the last, and means controlled by the last for initiating actuation of said driving means.

19.- A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a last support, a shoe removing tool, means to move said tool into and out of operating position, relative to said support, and means for actuating said tool through an operating stroke, including an automatic clutch effective to stop the machine after a single cycle of operation.

20. A- machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a last support, a carriage, a shoe removing tool mounted in said carriage, means to move said carriage and tool into and out of operating position relative to said support, and means to actuate said tool relative to said carriage, through an operating stroke, including an automatic clutch effective to stop the machine after a single cycle of operation.

2i. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool, means for moving said tool into engagement with the counter portion of the shoe, and driving means for thereafter actuating said tool to eifect relative movement between the shoe and the last, including an automatic clutch effective to stop the machine after a single cycle of operation.

22-. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a portion engageable with the shoe and a lip adapted for insertion between the shoe and the last, means for moving said tool into engagement with the shoe, and driving meansfor thereafter actuating said tool to effect a removal of the shoe from the last, including an automatic clutch effective to stop the machine after a single cycle of operation.

23. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a friction surface shaped to conform to the counter portion of the shoe, means for moving said tool into engagement with the shoe, and driving means for thereafter actuating said tool to effect a removal of the shoe from the last, including an automatic clutch effective to stop the machine after a single cycle of operation.

24. A machine for removing shoe elements from lasts comprising a last post, a movable support therefor, a carriage slidable relative to said support, a tool movably mounted on said carriage, driving means for said carriage and tool, and means controlled by movement of said support to initiate actuation of said driving means, said carriage and said tool being connected to said driving means for synchronous movement relative to each other.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a support, a last post on said support effective to receive and hold a last in an inverted position, a push rod associated with said support, a shoe removing tool connected to and mounted for actuation by said push rod, means for driving said rod whereby the tool is actuated through its operating movement, and means for locking said push rod against actuation until a last is properly positioned on the last post.

26. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a support, a last post on said support effective to receive and hold a last in an inverted position, a push rod associated with said support, a shoe removing tool connected to and mounted for actuation by said push rod, means independent of said push rod for moving said tool into and out of an operative position, means for driving said rod whereby the tool is actuated through its operating movement, and means for locking said push rod against actuation until a last is properly positioned on the last post.

27. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a frame, a support for a last with a shoe thereon mounted in said frame, a carriage mounted in said frame for movement relative to said support, an arcuate member mounted for movement in said carriage through a path sub stantially conforming to the line of curvature of the last, a shoe removing tool carried by said arcuate'member, means to move said carriage whereby to position the tool in engagement with the shoe, and means to move said arcuate member in a direction effective to remove the shoe from the last.

28. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a frame, a support for a last with a shoe thereon mounted in said frame, a carriage mounted in said frame for movement relative to said support, an arcuate member mounted for movement in said carriage through a path sub stantially conforming to the line of curvature of the last, a shoe removing tool carried by said arcuate member, means to move said carriage whereby to position the tool in engagement with the shoe, means to move said arcuate member in a direction effective to remove the shoe from the last, and means for retaining said tool constantly pressed against the shoe during the removal operation.

29. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a frame, a support for a. last with a shoe thereon, pivotally mounted on said frame, a carriage mounted in said frame for movement relative to said support, an arcuate member mounted for movement in said carriage through a path substantially conforming to the line of curvature of the last, a shoe removing tool car.- ried by said arcuate member, means to move said carriage whereby to position the tool in engagement with the shoe, means to move said arcuate member in a direction effective to remove the 10 shoe from the last, and means controlled by movement of said support about its pivot to initiate actuation of the carriage and arcuate member moving means.

30. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a frame, a support for a last with a shoe thereon, pivotally mounted on said frame, a carriage mounted in said frame for movement relative to said support, an arcuate member mounted for movement in said carriage through a path substantially conforming to the line of curvature of the last, a shoe removing tool carried by said arcuate member, means to move said carriage whereby to position the tool in engagement with the shoe, means to move said arcuate member in a direction effective to remove the shoe from the last, means controlled by movement of said support about its pivot to initiate actuation of the carriage and arcuate member moving means, and means for latching said support against movement.

31. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a. frame, a support for a last with a shoe thereon, pivotally mounted on said frame, a carriage mounted in said frame for movement 35 relative to said support, an arcuate member mounted for movement in said carriage through a path substantially conforming to the line of curvature of the last, a shoe removing tool carried by said arcuate member, means tomove said 40 carriage whereby to position the tool in engagement with the shoe, means to move said arcuate member in a direction effective to remove the shoe from the last, means controlled by movement of said support about its pivot to initiate 45 actuation of the carriage and arcuate member moving means, and means for latching said support against movement, said last means being positioned on said support for release by engagement with the last when the last is placed on the 5 support.

32. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a last support, a shoe removing tool, means to move said tool into and out of operating position relative to said support, means for 55 actuating said tool through an operating stroke,

and means for synchronizing said moving means and said actuating means, such that said moving means is effective to give said tool a quick movement into operating position immediately 50'- prior to the actuation of the tool through its operating stroke.

33. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a last pin for supporting a last with a shoe thereon, a tool having a shoe engaging sur- 65 face, means acting upon said tool to move same into proper operating position and to urge the tool against the shoe and thereby to urge the last against the last pin in a direction opposed to removal of the last from the pin, and additional 70 means for thereafter moving said tool in a direction to separate the shoe from the last.

34. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe there'- on, a shoe removing tool, means for moving said tool toward the last and shoe, to operatively position the tool, and additional means for thereafter actuating said tool in the general direction of said first movement, to remove the shoe from the last.

35. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool, means for moving said tool up to the shoe on the last, and thereafter through a path conforming to the curvature of the heel portion of the shoe whereby the shoe may be removed from the last, and means for applying constant pressure to the tool during the second portion of its movement in a direction efiective to insure positive contact between the tool and shoe.

36. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a last support, a shoe removing tool, means to move said tool into and out of proper operating position relative to said support, and independent means for thereafter actuating said tool through an operating stroke, said means being relatively synchronized to each other, to produce quickly successive movements of said means.

3'7. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a rubber head adapted to maintain a frictional contact with the shoe, means for moving said tool into proper engagement with the shoe, and additional, driving means for thereafter actuating said tool to efiect a removal of the shoe from the last.

38. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a rubber head adapted to maintain a frictional contact with the shoe, means for moving said tool into proper engagement with the shoe, additional, driving means for thereafter actuating said tool to effect a removal of the shoe from the last, and means for retaining said tool constantly in engagement with the shoe during the last movement of the tool.

39. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool having a rubber head 5 adapted to maintain a frictional contact with the shoe, means for moving said tool into proper engagement with the shoe, additional driving means for thereafter actuating said tool to effect a removal of the shoe from the last, and means controlled by the last for initiating actuation of said driving means.

40. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool, a slidable member to which said tool ispivotally connected, driving means for actuating said slidable member, and means controlled by said last for controlling said driving means.

41. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool, a slidable member to which said tool is pivotally connected, a carriage in which said member is slidable, means for moving said carriage and tool relative to said support into and out of operative relation to the shoe and last, and means for actuating said slidable member relative to the shoe and last.

42. A machine for removing shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool, a slidable member to which said tool is pivotally connected, a carriage in which said member is slidable, means for moving said carriage and tool relative to said support into and out of operative relation to the shoe and last, means for actuating said slidable member relative to the shoe and last, and means controlled by the last for initiating actuation of said moving means and actuating means.

BENJAMIN W. FREEMAN. 4.0 JOSEPH G. HERBERS. 

